ORGANIC MATTER IN IRON-MANGANESE NODULES OF PELAGIC ZONES OF THE OCEAN

Abstract

The authors analyzed data obtained during a study of iron-manganese nodules and surrounding sediments of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The data indicate that in the top 30 to 50 cm of bottom sediments there occurs active diagenetic redistribution of Mn, Ni, Co and Cu as a result of local variations in the redox potential. The redox potential of nodule-bearing sediments varies rather sharply, sometimes by as much as 100 mV. Experimental results also indicate that the organic matter in the sediments is represented by aliphatic groups, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and the functional groups of humic acids.